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EXECUTIONOFJUDGMENTANDORDERS/PRACTICEANDPROCEDURES

BY

ABDULYUSUFK.

STUDIESFELLOWII

NATIONALJUDICIALINSTITUTE(NJI)

BEINGAPAPERPRESENTEDATTHEREFRESHERCOURSEFORSECRETARIES,PROTOCOL,OFFICERS,COURTREGISTRARS,PROCESS

CLERKSANDBAILIFF’S;9TH-13THMAY,2016

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EXECUTIONOFJUDGMENTANDORDERS/PRACTICEANDPROCEDURES

Ifeelhighlyhonouredandprivilegedstandingbeforeyoudistinguishedparticipants to serve as a resource person. I wish to express myprofound gratitude to the Administrator of the National JudicialInstitute (NJI), My Lord Hon. Justice R.P.I. Bozimo, OFR, and theeducation committee for giving me the opportunity to present thispaper and alsomy thanks goes to the Institute Secretary, Director ofStudies, Director of Research, and the Deputy Director of Studies forfindingmeworthyasaresourceperson.

PREAMBLE

Fromtimeimmemorial,theLawCourthasbeenrecognizedasabastionofhope,especiallytothepooranddowntrodden,adjudicatingbetweenor among contendingparties and interpreting the lawsof the landaspartofitscorefunctionsasanindependentjudicialarmofgovernment,andasrequiredbyprevailingconstitution.

As judicial staff, I am surewearenotobliviousof the fact thatwhenlawyers or litigants approach the court of Law, it is basically for onepurpose, Justice. The law Court has not only been viewed as the lasthope of the commoners, but could aptly be described as a strongshelterintimesofoppressionorrepression.

Put briefly, the law Court is a temple of Justice, where lawyersapproachtoseekreliefortoenforcetheirfundamentalrightsintimesof oppression and adversity. Therefore, Justice has been variouslydefinedandexpressedindiverseforms.Generallyunderstoodtomeanwhat is right, fair, appropriate and deserved. Justice is said to be

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achievedwhen an unjust act is redressed and the victim feels wholeagain. For aCourtof Law to appropriatelydischarge its constitutionalfunctions, the judicial process must be transparent, such that justicemust not only be done, but must be seen to have been done. InadditiontothefactthatcourtJudgments/Rulings,Ordersarepromptlyandappropriatelycompliedwith,suchthatthebeneficiariesenjoythefruitoftheirhardwonvictory.

The successful enforcement of court judgment therefore, is theculmination of a judicial process. Non-compliance with CourtJudgment/Ruling or Order of Injunction by the court of subordinatejurisdiction under the guise of appeals to the court of superiorjurisdictionnodoubt,amountstoslowingdownthewheelsofjustice.

In this regard, thetopic:-“Executionof JudgmentandOrders/PracticeandProcedures”isaptandgermanetooursocio-politicaldevelopmentandofparticularimportancetojudicialstaffinNigeria.

COURTSOFRECORD

In common law jurisdictions, a Court of Record is a Judicial Tribunalhaving attributes and exercising functions independently of judicialofficerdesignatedgenerallytoholdit,andproceedingaccordingtothecourse of common law, its acts and proceedings being enrolled for apersonal memorial. Judgment of a High Court is normally subject toappellate review by the Court of Appeal in our Constitution. Inmanyjurisdictions,Courts thathave thepower to fineor imprison,mustbecourtsofrecord. Inalmostall jurisdictions,aCourtofrecordwillhaveits own unique Seal, which is used to authenticate its Judgment andcopiesofrecord.

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In Nigeria, the superior courts of record are the Supreme Court, theCourt of Appeal, the Federal High Court, State High Courts, and theHigh Courts of the Federal Capital Territory, the Customary Court ofAppeal of the Federal Capital Territory and the Customary Court ofAppeal of a State. Recently, the National Industrial Court was alsoaccordedthestatusofasuperiorCourtofrecord.

THEPOWEROFAJUDGE:-

The power to sit on a matter and decide same in accordance withcodifiedandknownlawsorrulesisvestedinthejudiciary,thethirdarmofGovernment.Thejudiciarythroughitsfunctionariesexercisesjudicialpowers of the federation and of the state. Section 318 Constitution1makes for the functionaries that perform judicial functions. They arethereincalledjudicialofficerswhoarejudgesoftheFederalCourtsandof theHighCourtsof theState.Theyarealsoknownas judgesof theSuperior Courts. Apart from these, there are also magistrates andJudgesofCustomary,AreaandorShariaCourtsalsoknownasJudgesofLowerCourts.BasicallyjudicialofficersaswellastheMagistrates,Area,CustomaryandorShariaCourtsJudges’dutiesareadjudicatory,thatis,thehearingofdisputeorcasesbetweengovernmentorauthorityandanypersonorbetweenpersonsthemselvesinthecountryanddecidesthem in accordance with existing and known laws. In short, a courthears anddecides casesbroughtbefore it andeventually enforces itsdecision. It is the capacity to enforce or execute its judgment thatmakes out or distinguishes courts with judicial powers from otherbodies or institution of state without such powers. One wouldtherefore without any fear of contraction say that judgment

11999ConstitutionoftheFederalRepublicofNigeriaasAmended

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enforcementorexecution,whetherinthesuperiororlowercourtisofthe essence of litigation generally. No litigant, be it a governmentagency,acorporatebodyoran individual in its/his/her right frameofmind will have recourse to the courts if he or she knows that theoutcome of such litigation (Judgment) are not to be executed, orenforceable. Rather, aggrieved parties will not patronize the courts;theyarelikelytoadoptthe“doitmyself”syndrome,thusleadingtotheundesirable,which is anarchy. Enforcementof judgmentor executionbeingtheend-productoflitigationoradjudicationshouldthereforebetreatedwithalltheimportanceitdeserves.

THECONCEPTOFJUDGEMENT

It isrelevantforustoknowwhatajudgmentis inordertoappreciatethe issues under discussion i.e. its enforcement. The LongmanDictionary of Contemporary English2 defines the term “Judgment”amongother things tobe“Anofficial decision givenbya Judgeor aCourt of law.” And that it is: “Something unpleasant that happenswhichseemslikeapunishmentforthethingsyouhavedonewrong.”

One could also say that a judgment is the verdict or decision that acourt of law arrives at after itmust have heard and reviewed all thefacts and issues as well as the law presented before it by litigants,disputantsorpartiesonbothsidesofacasewhichdecisionisrequiredtoandormustcontainfindingsandresolutionsonallthematerialfactorissues.AJudgmentthereforemustnotsufferanyambiguity.

Legally,ajudgmentwasdefinedinthecaseofOsafileVs.Odi3whereitwasheldthattheword“Judgment”initsordinaryusageconnotesthe

2NewEdition(1995)page7693(1990),3NWLR,130at153.

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resolution of a person with respect to a cause of action betweencompeting alternatives. The word “Judgment” therefore connotes abindingdeterminationofacourtortribunal inadisputebetweentwopersons. The determination is enforceable by the exercise of thecoercivejurisdictionofthecourtsattheinstanceofthepartyinwhosefavorthejudgmenthasbeenmade(orreached).

Hence,theterm“Judgment”or“Order”connotesanydecisiongivenbya Court on a question(s) at issue between the parties to theproceedingsproperlybeforethecourt.TheSupremeCourtinthecaseof Saraki & Anr. V. Kotoye4 defined the word “Judgment” as: “Abinding, authentic, official, judicial determination of the Court inRespectoftheCourtinrespectsoftheclaimsandinanactionbeforeit.”

Byvirtueofsection318(1)oftheConstitution5,asamended,whichisthe interpretationsection, themeaninggivento thewords“Decision”hasnotbeenrestrictedbutenlargedtosettledoubtortopreventanyoversight of legislative intention. Therefore, “Decision” “has beendefined to mean in relation to a court or any determination of thatcourt that includes judgment, decree, order, conviction, sentence orrecommendation”.

Therefore,aJudgmentcanbefinalorinterlocutory.AJudgmentisonlyfinalwhenitisobtainedinanactionbywhichanexistingliabilityoftheDefendanttotheClaimantisdeterminedonmeritandviceversa.

4(1992),9NWLR(Pt264)1565ibid

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TheCourtofAppeal,perOgundare JCA (ashe thenwas)quotedwithapproval of the opinion of Lord Anderson CJ in the case of BozsonAltrinchemUrbanDistrictCouncil6.

“Itseemstomethattherealtestfordeterminingthisquestionoughttobethis:doesthejudgmentororderasmadefinallydisposeoftherightoftheparties. If itdoesthenIthink itoughttobetreatedasafinalorder;butifitdoesnot,itisthen,inmyopinionaninterlocutoryorder”

Ajudgmentisbroughtaboutwhenanaggrievedpersoncomestocourtby filing a case at the Court Registry either through his lawyer or byhimself and which same is assigned to a judge and the matter isadjudicateduponbytheJudge.TheCourt,uponapropervaluationofthe evidence presented before it either through examination in-chiefand cross examination of witnesses at the trial (in case of aWrit ofSummonoraffidavitofevidenceinthecaseofOriginatingSummons),arrivesatadecision.AllproceedingsofCourtmustberecordedinthecase filewhich alsohas the Judge’s notes. That iswhy the courts arereferredtoasCourtsofrecord.

Therefore,asuccessfullitigantthatis,theJudgment/Creditorisentitledto commence enforcement of the Judgment and that is only whenthere is no voluntary compliancewith the judgmentby the judgmentDebtor, then execution of the judgment becomes necessary, indeedinevitable.Whothefunctionariesare,andtherolestheyplaythatisthefocalpointthetitletothislectureseekstocapture.Thetargetofficersare non other than the court Registrars, Bailiffs, Process Clerks andotherAdministrativeStaff,whoareassembledheretoday.

6(1903)1KB547@548

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THE CHIEF REGISTRAR/DEPUTY CHIEF REGISTRAR, (SHERIFF/DEPUTYSHERIFF),BAILIFFS,ANDADMINISTRATIVESTAFF.

TheaboveareprincipalAdministrativeofficers.IntheEnglishcommonlawcourts, theseofficersdoubleupassheriffsandprobateRegistrarsaswell.

A Sheriff is defined in the Black’s Law Dictionary7 as, inter alia…anofficer who in most jurisdictions act as custodian of the country jail,executesCivilandCriminalprocessesandcarriesoutjudicialmandates.

Adeputysheriffontheotherhandisdefinedinthesamedictionaryasan officer who, acting under the directives of a sheriff, may performmostofthedutiesofthesheriff’soffice.

It’sclearthattheChiefRegistrar/Sheriff’sfunctionsareenormous.TheChief Registrar is the chief record keeper, Chief Sheriff and ChiefExecutor of all court orders. He is the accounting officer. He is theadministrativeheadoftheJudiciaryanswerableonlytotheheadofthecourtfromwhomhetakesinstructionsanddirectives.ThefunctionsoftheChiefRegistrararethereforebothstatutoryandAdministrative.Hisstatutoryfunctionscanbefoundundersection7-12ofthesheriffandCivil process Law8 and 0rder.1 Rule 2 and 0rder.12 Rule 33 of theSupremeCourtRules.9

Registrars.

At the levelof the lower courts (i.e theMagistrates,Area,CustomaryandShariaCourts),theregistryisheadedbytheRegistrarofcourtwho

7Ed.ByBryanA.Garner9thed.(U.S.AThomsonReuters2009)9188Cap123LawsofNorthernNigeria196391999

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supervises the bailiffs and clerks of court and ensures that a validjudgmentrendereddownbythecourtisobeyedandorenforced.

ItisofutmostimportancetostatethatthecentralRegistryofthecourtshould bemanned by experienced staff in order to make for properrecordofcourtdocumentsorprocesses.

TheChiefRegistrar as Sheriff andhisdeputydown to the registrarofcourtsat the lowerCourt level togetherwiththebailiffswhoperformtheprimarydutyofenforcingorexecutingjudgmentsofthecourtmustcollaboratewith the court or in the judiciary. Theirwork, though notadjudicatory, iscomplementarytothejudicialfunctionofthejudgeormagistrateand,withoutthem;thedeliveryofqualityjusticewouldbeaherculean task to attain. All of them are involved in one way or theother in the day to day activities in the judiciary or in short, justiceadministration. Therefore individualistic tendencies should beeschewedandavoidedwitheveryresolveinordertoattainthesummitof satisfaction in thedispensationof justice.What isbeingputacrosshere is that administrative officers are in partnership with judicialofficers or those others who perform judicial functions in theadministration of justice because they invariably, are part of thesuccessorfailureofthejudicialsystem.

ENFORCEMENTOFJUDGEMENTOFCOURT.

Enforcement is defined as “the act or the process of compellingcompliance with a law, mandate, command, decree, or agreement.”Therefore,literarilytheenforcementofjudgmentistheactorprocessbywhichaCourt’sJudgment,RulingsandOrdersandotherdecisionsofCourtarebeenimplemented.AJudgmentmayrequirepaymentbyone

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person to another or into Court a sum ofmoney or itmay require apersontodoortoabstainfromdoingaparticularactoracts.

The process of enforcement is broadly referred to as execution. LordDenning aptly summarized theprocesswhenhe stated in the caseofRe:OverseasAviationEngineering(GB)Ltd10.

“Executionmeansquitesimplytheprocessforenforcingorgivingeffectto the Judgment of the court……. In casewhen executionwas had bymeansofacommonlawWritwhensuchasfieryfacias……..Itwaslegalexecution;when itwashadbymeansofanequitableremedy,suchastheappointmentofaReceiver,thenitwasequitableexecutionbecauseitwastheprocessforenforcingorgivingeffecttothejudgmentoftheCourt.”

Asmentioned,enforcementisthelaststageofthejudicialprocessafterthelegalright,claimorinteresthasbeendeterminedonthemeritinaJudgmentorOrderbytheCourtwhichremainstobeenforced.

Everyjudgmentofthecourtmustbeobeyedandiseffectivefromthedateof its deliveryor from such adate stated in the judgment itself.The Judgment ismeant tobeobeyedwithoutdemandand if there isdefault in obedience, after a period of grace which can be betweenthree to fourteen days as the rules may prescribe, the JudgmentCreditor is entitled to commence enforcement proceedings. AjudgmentofaCourtofcompetentjurisdiction,itmustbenotedisvaliduntilsetasideonappealandassuchmustbeobeyed.SeethecaseofOkoyavSantili11

10(1963)CH24atpp39,4011(1990)3NWLR(pt131)172

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A Judgment of Court may be enforceable or unenforceable. Themethodofenforcingaparticular JudgmentwilldependuponthetypeofJudgmentthatparticularJudgment is.WehavethesheriffandCivilprocessAct12and the Judgment (EnforcementProcedure)RulesmadeundertheAct,applicable.

EXECUTORYJUDGMENT

The forgoingcanbeclassifiedasExecutory Judgment.See thecaseofOkulatevAwosanya13andthecaseofOkoyavSantili(Supra)SupremeCourt Decision defined ‘Executory Judgments’ as those judgmentswhichdeclare the respective rightsof thepartiesand thenproceed toorder the defendants to act in a particular way; for example to paydamages or refrain from interfering with the Claimants’ rights. TheSupremeCourtwent further to say that such Judgment is enforcedbyexecutionifdisobeyed.

DECLARATIONJUDGMENT

Itmust be noted that there are some Judgments that do not requireenforcement or which are incapable of being executed as thejudgment. These are called declaratory Judgments. DeclaratoryJudgments or Orders merely proclaim or disclose the existence of alegalrelationshipanddonotcontainanyorderwhichmaybeenforcedagainst the Defendant. See again, the case of Okulate v. Awosanya(Supra) Declaratory Judgment is dormant. Hence, they neither haveforceof execution in the judgments norOrders.Again, in the caseofGovernmentofGongolaStatev.Tukur14theSupremeCourtstated:-

12CapS.6LawsoftheFederation,200413(1992)4NWLR(pt.235)28014(1989)4NWLR(pt117)592

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“ADeclarationsimpliciterisasolemnaffirmationofastateorastatusbyacourtthatinitselfisacompletereliefwhichisnotexecutory”

CONSENTJUDGMENT

Other category of judgment is consent judgment, capable of beingenforced and binding. By virtue of section, 241 (2) (c) of theConstitution15,itappearsthatajudgmentofCourtofRecordmadewiththe consent of the parties means a judgment made after a formalagreementbythepartiesthemselvesandtheircounselrespectivelyandwhichtermsshallbeincorporatedintheCourtsRulingwiththeconsentofthepartiesandwhichismadejudgmentoftheCourt.

It includes a judgmentwhere a Defendant submitswithout a contestbefore the Court. This excludes a judgment which the Courtdeliberately reaches in the exercise of its adjudicative functions afterconsideringthecaseoftheparties,theevidenceinsupportthereofandthesubmissionsof counsel. See thecaseofAbdulkarimv. Incar (Nig)Ltd16

PROCESSOFEXECUTIONORENFORCEMENTOFCOURTJUDGMENT:

The baton of the race in the dispensation of justice primarily is firstperformedbyajudicialofficerwhonexthanditovertothenon-judicialofficers to complete the race until the tape is reached. The race iscompletedonlywhenthefruitsof the judgmentobtainedarereaped.The role played by the judicial staff (the register etc) becomesimportantmost timeswhen a person againstwhom the judgment ofthe court is pronounced refuses or fails to comply with what he is

151999ConstitutionoftheFederalRepublicofNigeriaasAmended16(1992)7NWLR(pt251)3

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ordered to do therein. It is then that the judgment of the court isenforcedorexecutedonhim.

Theexecutionorenforcementofa judgmentwhichfollowsthelogicalpronunciationof the sameby the judgeormagistratemust thereforebe taken seriously as it is one of the most important aspects of theadministration of justice in any societywhere the rule of law thrives.However, it isnecessary,dependingon the contentsof anyparticularjudgmentthatbeforeit isenforcedorexecuteditshouldbeclearandpositiveontheordersmadebytheJudgeorMagistratetherein.Thisisbecause some judgmentswhichmay be declaratory in nature do notrequireenforcementorcannotbeexecuted.SeethecaseofYAROVSAREWACONSTRUCTIONLTD17

The Supreme Court in the case of Government of Gongola State v.Tukur(Supra)JudgmentinitsinterpretationofSheriffsandcivilProcessAct and the (Enforcement Procedure)18, itemized the methods ofenforcingdifferentkindsofJudgmentasfollows;

I. AJudgmentorOrderforthepaymentofmoneymaybeenforcedbyaWritofFieryfacias,Garnisheeproceedings,achargingOrder,aWrit of Sequestration or an order for committal on JudgmentdebtorSummons.

II. A Judgment forpossessionof landmaybeenforcedbyaWritofPossession,aWritofSequestrationorCommittalOrder.

III. A Judgment for delivery of goodsmay be enforced by aWrit ofspecific delivery or restitution or their value, a Writ ofSequestrationorWritofCommittal.

17(1998)7NWLR(pt.558)368,3811818CapS6LFN2004

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IV. A judgment ordering or restarting the doing of an act may beenforcedbyanorder.

Aninterlocutoryorderrestrainingthedoingofanactmaybeenforcedbyanorderofcommittal.

The Sheriffs and Civil processes Act and the judgment (Enforcementprocedure)Rules19, itssubsidiary legislationmakesadequateprovisionfor the enforcement of Judgment in Nigeria. See item 57 in the 2ndSchedule Part 1 in the Exclusive Legislative List of the Constitution.Section4,oftheConstitution20givesexclusivelegislativepowertotheNational Assembly only to make law on item 57 of the ExclusiveLegislative List. This is why the State House of Assembly does notlegislateonitem57.

WRITOFFIFA

Thisisoneofthemostcommonlyusedwritsintermsofexecution.Itisinvoked where the judgment/order of the court involves a sum ofmoney. It is carried out by attachment and sale of properties of thejudgmentdebtor.The judgmentcreditor initiates itbyapplyingtothecourt registry for execution of the judgment he has in his favor. Theregistrar of the court completes the writ whichmust contain amongother things the judgment sum, the fees paid, cost awarded and thecostoftheexecutionandtakeittothejudgetosign.Thecourtofficerso scheduledmust keep a book andmake entries as to the time theapplicationwasmadewhichmustalsobereflectedonthewrit. Ifyouhavemorethanoneforexecution,suchwritswouldbeexecutedintheorderthattheywereenteredinthebook.Thenextsteptotakewould

19ibdi20ibdi

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bethedistressandseizureofthemoveablepropertyofthe judgmentdebtorexcepthiswearingapparels,beddingsandthatofhisfamilyandtoolsforimplementsofhistradeworthvalueofFivePounds.

Interestingly, under the Area Courts system, once a judgment is notenforced within two years, then the leave of court must be soughtbefore itcanbeenforced.Additionally,an inventoryof thepropertiesmustbetakenandsignedbythebailiffandthejudgmentdebtor.

Equally,money,bankbonds,promissorynotes,billsofexchange,bond,specialties or securities for money could be levied execution. Uponseizure of these monetary instruments, the law allows the sheriff toholdsameassecurityforthejudgmentcreditorandfurtherallowsthesaidjudgmentcreditortosueinthenameofthejudgmentdebtororinthenameofapersoninwhosenamethejudgmentdebtormighthavesuedfortherecoveryofthesumsecuredormadepayablethereto.

It isexpectedthat theseizedmoveablepropertieswouldbekept inasafeplacebythebailifforwithsuchafitpersonorinsuchafitplaceasmaybedirectedbythesherifforRegistrar.

SALESOFSEIZEDGOODS

Byvirtueof theprovisionofS.29 (1)of theLaw21,attachedmoveableproperties cannot be auctioned until 5 days after the date of suchattachment. The exception is that if the properties are of perishablenatureor the judgmentdebtoronhisown inwritingsorequest, thensamecanbesoldbeforethestatedperiod.

Further,undertheRules,thejudgmentdebtorcanalsointhepresenceof twowitnesses request that his attached properties be sold before21TheSheriffsandCivilProcessLawCap123LawsofNorthernNigeria

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thestipulatedperiod.Itshouldbenotedthatwherethesalecannotbecompletedwithinaday,samecanbeadjournedforafurtherperiodofnotexceedingthreedaysandsoasoftenasnecessary.Inaddition,thesale canbepostponed foraperiodnotexceeding21days.Under theAreaCourtsystem,therulesallowforsuchpostponementforaperiodnotexceeding28days22.

Whilethesalemustbebetween7:00a.mand8:00p.motherthanonaSundayandpublicholidaytheremustbedateoftheauctioneitherattheprincipalcourthousewithintheDivisionorDistrictor thenearestcourttotheplacewheretheattachmenttookplace.Shouldtherebenocourthousewithin5milesofwhere theattachment tookplace, thenthecourtcandirectastowherethesaleshouldhold.

Publicationof thesalemustbemade4daysbefore theday setasidefor the sale.Thehighestbiddermusthave thebell knockeddown forhim.Itissalienttostressthatthenoticeofthedateofthesalemustbepastedatthedoorofthecourthouseorinanewspaperasthecourtshalldirect.

Duringexecution, itmightbediscovered thatmore thanonewrithasbeenissuedoverthesameproperties,inthatcasetheorderofpriorityastothetimingoftheapplicationforenforcementwouldbeadheredto. Herein lies the wisdom in the provision dealt with earlier theregistershallenteronabookkeptforthatpurposeintheRegistryoronthewritoffifathetimetheapplicationforenforcementwasmade.

EXECUTIONAGAINSTIMMOVABLEPROPERTIES

22Order19Rules4(b)AreaCourtsCivilProcedureRules1972

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Ifnomovableorsufficientmovablepropertiesofthejudgmentdebtorcanbe foundor traced to settle thedebt, the judgmentcreditormayapply for the immovable property of the judgment debtor to beattached and sold to meet the judgment debt. Other than the Highcourt, execution cannot be made to lie outside the District Court’sjurisdiction.

If for any reason, the judgment debtor has no right under any nativelaw and custom to alienate any building owned or occupied by him,thensamecannotbesoldbutwherehehasaright, interestortitle inmaterialsusedinthebuilding,suchcanbesoldsubjecttotheleaveofthe court on such terms or conditions as may be stipulated by thecourt.

Peradventure, there is any irregularity in the sale of such immovablepropertyandwhichisinjurioustosomeone,suchsalecanbesetasidewithin21days.Assoonasthesaleissetaside,thesaleiscancelledandthepurchaser’smoneyrefundedandifotherwise,thenitisaffirmed.Inlawpossessionis99%proveoftitle,henceitisexpectedthatthecourtwould proceed to ensure physical possession by the purchaser andcertificate of purchase should be promptly issued to him. Time andagainithasbeennoticedthatwheretitledocumentsarenotissuedinfavor of the purchaser, a person who was not an interpleader couldeven for mischief embark upon litigation to challenge the validpurchaser. This position was lamented by his Lordship Aniagolu JSC(Rtd)inthecaseof-

CardosoVs.Daniel(1986)2S.C491at492.

Wherehesaid,

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“Whathasbeenperplexing in the case iswhy the thenSupremeCourt (theHigh Court) has not taken steps toperfect the title of the purchaser from court (John St.MathewDaniel)underthepublicauctionsalebyissueofcertificate of title to the purchaserwho, from then on,wouldhavethecertificateashisrootoftitle…makingitimpossibleforanysubsequentclaimant/challenger,whoare not interpleader before the court to succeed indisturbingthepurchaser.”

Mentionmustindeedbemadethatwheretheimmovablepropertyisarightofoccupancy,consenttoalienateundertherelevantlawsmustbefirstsoughtandobtained.

It isthepositionthatwherethepartiesareMuslims,thecourtshouldbeguidedbyIslamicprinciplesrelatingtosuchsale.

EXECUTIONOUTSIDEJURISDICTION.

Letitbekindlynotedthatwherethepropertiesofthejudgmentdebtortobeattachedareoutsidethejurisdiction(territorial)ofthecourtthatdeliveredthejudgment,theRegistraroftheissuingorhomecourtshallcausetobedeliveredtheendorsementthereof totheregistrarof theother court. TheRegistrar or court officer of the receiving court shallactinallmaterialrespectbycarryingouttheexecution,asifitisawritemanatingfromhisowncourt.

After the execution of the saidwrit the officer of the receiving courtshall within the prescribed period inform the Registrar of the homecourtoftheexecutionofthewritandshallpayintothehomecourtallmoneyrecoveredintheprocess.TheJudgeofthereceivingcourtshall

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havethesamepowersasregardsstayofexecutionasthejudgeofthehomecourt. Inanycase,all theprocedure that relates toattachmentandsaleofpropertieswhethermovableorimmovableshallbeadheredtobytheothercourtasifitistheissuingcourt.

INTERPLEADERPROCEEDINGORCLAIMONATTACHEDPROPERTIES

Occasionmayarisewherebyaftertheattachment,whetherofmovableor immovable properties of the judgment debtor, a claimant or thirdpartymayemergetoassertthattheattachedpropertiesdonotbelongto the judgment debtor. This is called interpleader proceedings. Insuch a situation the claimant is expected to deposit with the courtofficerconcernedthemonetaryvalueofthepropertiesinissue,orgivethe costs (where allowed) of keeping possession of that property orgivesecurityforthevalueofthepropertyclaimedwhichshallbepaidintocourttoawaitthedecisionofthecourtontheclaim.Ifinanycaseno suchmoney worth the value of the properties is paid or securitygiven,thepropertiesshallbesoldandtheproceedspaidintocourttoabidebythedecisionofthecourt–seeSection.33oftheLaw23.

Byandlarge,thisprovisionisofsalutaryeffect inthatitseekstocurbsituationswherebyajudgmentdebtorwouldconnivewithsomebogusclaimants to seek to stultify the realization of the fruits of labour. Itensuresthatbogusclaimantsarewardedoff.

In theevent thataclaimantemerges, theRegistrar issuesasummonsto the judgment creditor and to the claimantsaswell toappearonafixeddateandbeheardontheclaim.Wherethecourtissatisfiedoftheclaim,thesaleiscancelledbutifotherwise,thenthesalewouldhold.Itshouldbenoted thata claimsuchas theonestatedabove ipso facto2323SheriffsandCivilProcessLawCap123LawsofNorthernNigeria

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operatesasastayofanyactionarisingoutofdamagesallegedlycausedintheprocessofexecution.

WHERETHEJUDGMENTDEBTASARESULTOFTENANCY

Permitmetohighlightthatthelawallowsalandlordatwhoseinstanceexecutionislevied,toclaimarrearsofrentfromhistenantatthetimeattachment is beingmade by personally through his agent in writingmake such claim stating the amount beingowed and the timeof thetenementwithin5daysaftertheseizureortheremovalof theseizedgoods.Wherethe landlorddoesasstatedabove,theBailiffshallseizemorepropertiesofthejudgmentdebtorbutshallnotsellbefore5daysafter such seizure.However if the properties seized are of perishablenatureorthejudgmentdebtorinwritingsorequesthecansellbeforethesaid5days.

Alsowhere the requireddaysexpired, theBailiffor courtofficer shallsellsametooffset:

a) Thecostsincidentaltothesale;b) The landlords claim not exceeding four weeks rent where the

tenementisforanyotherperiodlessthanoneyear;c) Two terms of such rent if the tenement is for any other period

lessthanoneyear;d) Ayear’srentinanyothertenement;ande) Theamountforwhichthewritofexecutionwasissued.

Flowingfromtheaboveandafterthesale,thecostsofexecution,feespaid,costsinthesuitandtheactualjudgmentsummustfirstbesettledafterwhichtheresidue(ifany)isgivenbacktothejudgmentdebtor.Itisexpectedthatpropertiessoldthatarethesubjectofa lienor inthe

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possession of some other party towhom the judgment is entitled toreversion; such a person shall be timorously notified to deliverpossessiontoapurchaserimmediately.

JUDGMENTSUMMONS

Whenthe judgmentdebtordefaults inplayinghis judgmentdebt, thejudgment creditormay apply to the court and the courtmay issue ajudgmentsummonstothejudgmentdebtorforhimtocometocourt,wherein he would be examined on oath on his ability to pay thejudgment debt or not andwhether or not the judgment debtor shallappear,ifthejudgmentcreditorhashiswitnessesincourt,theywouldbeexamined.

Furthertothis,wherethereisapprehensionthatajudgmentdebtorislikelytoescapetoavoidtheexaminationabovestatedortoavoidthepayment of the judgment debt, he could be arrested and evenimprisoned subject to such adjournments as the merit of the casewould demand and subject to such orders that may be made topreserve the property of the debtor, in the process, the court maymakethefollowingorders:

I. Anorderforinstalmentalpayment;II. An order for the attachments and sale of the property of the

judgmentdebtor;III. Anordercommittingthejudgmentdebtortoprison;IV. Anorderdischargingthejudgmentdebtorfromprison.

Mostsalient is the fact thatwemustknowthat thissummonscanbeissued before the machinery is set in motion for execution of thejudgment of the court byway of attachment and sale, or before the

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processofcommittaltoprisonorevenwhilethejudgmentdebtorisinprison as a result of committal for non compliance with thejudgment/orderofthecourt.Itwouldseemthatitsusageisdictatedbythe circumstances of each case and at the instance of the judgmentcreditor.

GARNISHEEPROCEEDINGS

Theinvocationofthejurisdictionofthecourtthiswayismadeuponanex-parteapplicationwherethejudgmentcreditorallegesthatasumofmoney in the hands of a third party which is due to be paid to thejudgment debtor should be paid to the court for his benefit. In thisinstance,thethirdpartyiscalledthegarnishee.Itisaprerequisitethatanoticemustbeservedonthejudgmentdebtorandthethirdpartyorgarnishee14daysbeforethehearingofsuchapplication.Theserviceofan order nisi is sufficient to bind such debt in the hands of the thirdparty.

If thedebt sought tobegarnisheed is in thehandsofapublicofficerthentheconsentoftheAttorney-GeneralandCommissionerforJusticemust be sought or if in custodia legis, then the consent of the courtmust be sought. Under the rules, where the amount sought to begarnisheedissosmallastoappearvexatious,theproceedingsshallnotberesortedto.

WRITOFPOSSESSION

This is awritusedmostlywhere the judgment isover title to landorother immovable property. The writ commands whoever is inpossessiontovacatesameforthepersonnamedtherein.Theessenceof this writ cannot be overemphasized, because where the land or

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landedpropertyisnotyetinthehandsofthejudgmentcreditor,thenalotmorewouldstillneedtobedone.

Under Section24 of the Law24, in enforcing possession, it is notnecessarythatallthingsfoundonthelandmustberemoved.Itappearstomethattherationalebehindthisprovisionisthatwereittobetherequirement, it would at times be impossible to put the judgmentcreditorinpossessionandmoreimportantly,thedoctrineofquicquidplantatursolo–soloceditoperatesi.ehewhoownsthelandalsoownswhatisonitorwhateverisaffixedtothelandbelongstoit.

Theprovisionof theRules,provide further thatwherea thirdparty isdispossessedoflandorotherimmovablepropertyandheclaimsitwaswronglydonebecausehewasonthelandorpropertyonhisownrightoraccount,orthepropertywasnotincludedinthejudgment/orderorif included, he was not a party, he can within 14 days of such actchallengeitincourtwhereinthecourtisenjoinedtotreatsameasifitisasuitbetweenthepartiesandmaketherightorderattheendoftheday.

ORDEROFSEQUESTRATION

ItisajudicialwritcommandingtheSherifforotherofficerofthecourtto seize the goods or properties of a person named in thewrit. It isissued sometimes against a party who has defaulted or acted incontempt of the court. It is normally done for the benefit of thejudgment creditor. It also means depositing of a property in issuepending the outcome of the suit with some other person called thesequester.

24SheriffsandCivilProcessLawCap123LawsofNorthernNigeria

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ORDEROFSPECIFICDELIVERY

Asthenomenclaturesuggests,itismeanttocompelapersonorpartyto specificallydeliver certainproperties inhispossession to theotherpartyfailureofwhichcouldbemetbycommittalprison.

EXECUTIONOFJUDGMENTS/ORDERSINCRIMINALTRIALS.

Generally in criminal trials, the judgments/order of a court is ameredischarge, a discharge and acquittal or a conviction. Where (and insome cases), a discharge, there is nothing to execute as the accusedperson is set free even if not onmerit. Similarly, where the accusedperson isdischargedandacquitted,he issetfreeandthere isnothingtoenforce.

However, if conviction is secured, the sentence among other thingscouldbeafine,atermofimprisonmentorbothfineandimprisonmentorfineandinits lieuimprisonment,detentioninareformatoryhome,canning,deathsentenceandhaddilashing.SeeSection.68ofthepenalcode.

It ispertinenttostatethattheAdministrationofCriminalJusticeAct25addressestheproblemofexcessiveuseof imprisonmentasadisposalmethod by introducing some alternatives to imprisonment. Theseinclude the introduction of suspended sentence, community service,paroleandprobation.

FACTORSTHATAFFECTENFORCEMENTOFJUDGMENT.

Oftentimethereisacloginthewheelofjusticeadministrationthroughthe process of enforcement of judgment by factors which are

25Section453,460and468ACJA2016

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sometimes not caused by the court but by litigant. Some of thesefactors have long been identified as been a clog in a wheel ofenforcementofCourtJudgmentinNigeria.

Suffice it to point out that there are usually enormous challengesconfronting the judge, the Sheriff, Deputy Sheriff and bailiff in theprocess of giving effect to judgments. It’s part of the objectives ofjusticedelivery to ensure that a judgment creditor reaps the fruits ofhis judgment. An unreaped judgment is no judgment at all. Thefollowing are some of the common factors inhibiting the quick orimmediaterealizationofthefruitsofjudgments.

1. ExecutiveDisobedienceandLawlessness:Thereiseverpresentinthebodypolityof thisCountry the tendency for thosewhomantheExecutiveArmofGovernmenttodisregardaswellasdisobeythejudgmentsandordersofthecourtsoftheland.TheExecutivehavenotonlyshowntheirdislikeforcourtordersandjudgments.This uncivilized and unlawful conducts constitute one of thegreatest obstacles and bottlenecks to the enforcements ofjudgmentsandordersmadebythecourt.

2. Mostoften, sharp legalpractitioners inorder toensure that thefruitsofjudgmentsaredelayedornotreapedatallemploythesetechniques frivolously or fraudulently. Usually they causeunnecessary delays in the hearing of these applications bybaselessapplicationsforadjournments.

3. The need for review and updates of our laws to suit presentsrealities. Our present laws in most of our jurisdiction are outdated.

4. Corrupt practice by Administrative Officers in the course ofexecuting judgments.Registrarsandbailiffsareoftenaccusedof

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employing crooked ways in the course of carrying outattachments or auction sales. The commonest of these crookedwaysare:(i) Fakeserviceofcourtprocessesbarkedbyfalseaffidavits.(ii) Attachmentofpropertiesfarinexcessofthejudgmentsum.

E.Gcollectingthewholeofhouseholditemsworthhundredsofthousandsforastipendjudgmentsum.

(iii) Auctioningatridiculouslyoroutrageouslylowprices.(iv) Selling not to the highest bidder but to favoured or pre-

arrangedpersons.(v) Auctioningsecretlywithoutadvertising.(vi) Collectingmoneyfromprospectivebuyersinadvance.

5. Lackof conductiveworkingenvironmentandadequate facilities:It is expected that attached properties be kept in a safe placependingtheirsale.Nowadaysthecourtstaffisnothoused(officewise) talk less of properties. Additionally, facilities like towingvehicles would assist in execution but are lacking not to talk ofconstant electricity supply and deep freezers to preserveperishableitemsattached

6. Poorremuneration/funding:Thepaypackageofa judicialstaff isnotatakehomepay,itisanofficetakespent!Expectedly,whereanofficerispoorlyremunerated,hecannotputinhisbestratherhewouldbe lookingforavenueswherehecancheatthesystemorthecourtuserinordertomakeendsmeet.Bythesametoken,since the Judiciary is not financially independent or adequatelyfunded the minimum facilities needed for optimum output arenotthere.

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7. Filling of Appeals and application for stay of execution. TheprovisionofSection241oftheConstitution26applies.Inordertostop or delay a prompt execution of Court Judgment, somelawyers and litigants are found of filing motions for stay ofexecution frivolously to grossly abuse Court process or theconstitution. Once parties are aware of the moves by thejudgmentcreditorsandthesherifftolevyexecution,theyarefastinrushingtotheir lawyerswhosenext lineofaction isalwaystofile in court an application for stay of execution therebyfrustrating the judgment. Although the court does not make apractice of depriving a successful party of the fruits of hisjudgment,where,howeverspecialcircumstancesexist, thecourtmaygrantastayofexecutioninordertopreservethestatusquo.

8. Attempt to resist execution by the judgment debtor is anotherfactor that affects the enforcement of court judgment. This isusuallydonebyhiringthugstostalltheexecutionprocesses.Thisisverycommonwhen theexecution ison immovablepropertiessuchasland.

9. The police sometimes also contribute to the delay in theenforcementofcourtjudgmentastheyoftencomplainoflogisticssuchasvehicle.Andsincemostoftheexecutioncannotbedonewithoutthepresenceofthepolice,thejudgmentcreditorinmostcases must provide the logistics to move on.Where this is notpossible, the execution will be delayed. At times too, petitionwritingsalsocontribute todelay inexecutionofCourt JudgmentandenforcementofOrders.Some lawyersandeven litigantsare

261999ConstitutionoftheFederalRepublicofNigeriaasAmended

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fond of writing frivolous petition against Judges or even theirfellowlitigants.

Our law or the constitution in a way encourages a party to disobeycourtorderorjudgment.Itistritelawthatonceacourtmakesanorderwhichisclearandunambiguousitmustbeobeyedaspartiesareboundby it. They have a duty to implement the order. It does not matterwhethertheordermadeisproperor illegal.Anypartywhorefusestoimplement such subsisting order would not be giving a hearing in asubsequentapplicationbyhimaslongastheorderremainsdisobeyed.Thisisfoundedonthecommonlawprinciplethatapartyincontemptcannottakeproceedinginthesamecauseforitsbenefit.SeethecaseofFATBv.Ezegbu27.

Theabovelistisnotexhaustiveandconstitutesmaterialirregularity.ItposesagreatthreattotheintegrityofnotonlyjudicialAdministration,buttotheAdministrationofJusticeaswell.

Inviewoftheforegoing, Iamofthestrongviewthattheseandotherrelated issues must be effectively tackled in the interest of justiceadministrationand indeed, the legalprofession.Forpublic confidencetobeentrenchedinthejudicialsystem,thejudiciarymustriseuptothechallenge, in not only ensuring speedy dispensation of justice, butseeing to the fact that its decisions are enforceable and effectivelyenforced.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Having identified some observable lacuna in the relevant laws andprobable impediments to a successful enforcement of judgments of

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Courts of Record, it is therefore necessary to make some valuablerecommendations on the need to make appropriate legislations orreviewofexistingrelevantlegislations.

1. A careful examination of the provisions of the second schedule,Item 57, of the exclusive legislative list of the 1999 constitutionwhichrelates toserviceofprocess,enforcementorexecutionofcourt judgments, orders, decrees and decision of courts ofcompetentjurisdiction,revealssomeinadequaciesespeciallywithrespecttoitsapplicabilityatthestatelevel.

2. Alsoworthy of note is the provision of section 241 of the 1999Constitutionandtheneedforappropriatereviewtostemthetideofmanipulationsandabuseithasbeensubjectedto,andthedireconsequence it portends for administration of justice. Asmentionedearlier,experiencehadshowntoa largeextent,howpartieswhoappearednot tobe favoredby courtdecisionoftendeliberately disobeyed court orders or stall the enforcement ofjudgmentundertheguiseofappealingagainsttheruling.

3. Judges,Magistrate and Kadis should also exercise judicially andjudiciously their powerwith regard to granting Order of stay ofexecution of their judgment or orders. This discretionary powershouldnotbeabused.Ajudgeconductingatrialthereforehastheopportunity to see and hear witnesses in the case as the trialjudge.Itisthereforetherightofthetrialjudgetoascribevaluetothe evidence before it. The trial judge thus acts on credibleevidenceandgivesitaproperevaluation.SeethecaseofAjiboyev.Ishola28.

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4. The court officers saddled with the responsibility of executingjudgments/orders of court must acquaint themselves with thepositionof the law generally and especially as it relates to theirschedules.Thiswouldmaketheirworkcheaper,fasterandbetterforthecourtusersaswellasbetterthe imageofthe institution.Thiscouldbedonebywayofseminarsorworkshopssuchasthis.

5. That our employment mechanism must be strengthened toensure that the right people and indeed competent ones areemployed so that dishonest practices can be reduced to thebarestminimum.i.eBailiffsemployedmustadministertheoathofoffice.

6. Code of Conduct for judicial employees must be imbibed. Thecodeofconductforcourtemployeesisagoodpieceofsubsidiarylegislation that if imbibed by staff, all would be well with thejudiciary especially in surmounting the challenges faced duringexecutionofjudgments/orders.

7. Deliberatemechanismisputinplacetoblockloopholes.Hereitisadvocated that there should be strict compliance with therequirement of keeping of books where the time a writ ofexecutionisappliedfor,thefeespaid,thecostsofexecution,etcare recorded so as to check manipulation of the figures to thedetrimentofeitherthejudgmentcreditororjudgmentdebtor.

8. The judges themselves must Endeavour to ensure that theirjudgment/ordersarecleari.enotambiguousastoallowroomformischiefmakerstogiveitameaningotherthanwhatitoughttobe, thiswouldmake themeasier forexecutionandwouldnip inthebudfuturelikelymultiplelitigations.

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9. Improved remuneration and funding. Concerted efforts mustcontinuously be made to ensure that there is financialindependencefortheJudiciarytomakeroomforimprovementonthe working environment and facilities. Where a court has novehicleofitsowntoconveyattachedpropertiesleavesthecourtstaffatthemercyofthepublictransporterwhocouldturnouttobeinterestedinthecaseinwayortheother.Italsoremainstobestated that where staff are well paid, they would maximallyperform and instances of lapses noticed in execution would bedrasticallyreduced.

10. Improveconditionsofservices.

CONCLUSION

Theneedforasuccessfulenforcementofjudgmentofcourtscannotbeoveremphasized. Therefore, as Judicial Staff, particularly the categoryofyouwhoareattending this refreshercourse, itmustbenoted thattheprimaryfunctionofaJudicialstafflikeyoudoesnotstartorendinpreparing the execution of the court judgments, but includes theenforcementofjudgmentorordersmadebythecourt.

Theonus therefore, liesonall stakeholders tobediligentandvigilantand be accountable in the discharge of their respective duties.Judgments delivered by the courts of competent jurisdictionmust beenforced to the later, irrespective of persons, group of persons orjuristicpersons, as the casemaybe. Justice, according to thepopularmaxim,must not only be done butmanifestly be seen to have beendone.

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On the whole, these identified challenges are proposals in form ofsolutionsarenotexhaustive,itishopedthattheywouldgoalongwayinassistingusattainexcellenceasourgoal.

Inconclusion,whileIurgeyoutoacceptmyshortcomings,Ihopeyourthoughts on this topic have been provoked. I thank you for theaudience.